Mould be gone! (Dettox Mould and Mildew Cleaner)

Member Name: madmum71

Product:	Dettox Mould and Mildew Cleaner
Date:	19/04/07 (1028 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It works

Disadvantages: Strong smell of bleach

I would just like to point out that this product has now changed it's name back to Dettol.
I would like to talk about mould and damp, I know it's not a popular topic or a particularly interesting one but it is one that seems to crop in my life a lot! You see I think it follows me, now before you call for the straight jacket or strong medication (I'm already on that!) I will tell you briefly why.
When the other half and I first started living together we rented a 1 bedroom flat that was quite cute after about 3 months I noticed so damp patches in the bathroom and on some walls. So I informed the landlord his solution was to paint over them! Because I was also pregnant we decided to rent somewhere bigger and found a perfect cheap flat near everything we needed. So I thought I had escaped the damp and mould, How naïve I was! This flat was worse and I spent 6 years yes 6 in a bleach filled haze to the point as the boys grew up they were used to the eyes watering every time they went to the toilet! I think I tried every product on the market and it got to the point where I refused to let anyone in the flat except my lot! So we finally managed to buy our nice house and I was in my element, it had central heating and double-glazing and NO mould or damp. Or so I thought, 4 weeks a go I noticed a nice damp patch behind the loo and also the grouting in the bath had started to turn black in parts. The boys started to shake and the other half was ready with the gas masks but I decided to try this product first!

A BIT ABOUT DETTOL
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In 1929 Albert Reckitt a manufacturer based in Hull and Dr Reynolds a bacteriologist started researching a disinfectant and they came up with the still popular Dettol antiseptic disinfectant. The product was trialled for a 2-year period at the Queen Charlottes maternity hospital in London. After the trial it was recorded that the disinfectant cut deaths from childbirth fever by 50%. This was the start of a long and established relationship between dettol and the medical profession and very soon after that was just as popular in homes up and down the country.

PACKAGING
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This is the usual trigger spray bottle; the bottle itself is lime green with the well-known dettol logo you know the one with the sword through the dettol name. It also has peel off stickers front and back with the product name, directions and warnings. The top of the spray is white and the actual trigger is red. You have to turn the nozzle to the on bit and then turn it again when finished to off. These really bug me as I always try to use it when the spray is set on off and then I turn it on and it usually sprays out quick all over my fingers!

SURFACES TO USE ON
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Ok for the pretence of this review I will assume that you are all not like me and actually do check this first!
It is suitable for: chrome, stainless steel, ceramic tiles, white grouting, Formica and plastics, acrylic baths and showers and ceramic basins and toilets.
It is not suitable for: Hot surfaces, coloured grouting, rubber, unglazed tiles, enamel, painted surfaces or wood, laminate flooring, carpets and lino.

WARNINGS
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Basically the usual with this kind of product: Keep away from little monsters, use in well ventilated areas, rinse immediately if you get in your eyes, wear rubber gloves when using, keep away from food, do not swallow!, keep away from fish tanks and do not smoke while using.
This product does contain a powerful bleach formula so will smell very strong.

USING
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It does say to test a small patch of the area you are going to use this on first and of course I just piled straight in there, one day that approach will seriously back fire on me!
So on with the rubber gloves and away I sprayed after warning the boys that the bathroom was out of action for a while! For the first time in ages I had the bathroom to myself, it may of stunk of bleach but hey beggars can't be choosers! Sorry back to the product, the directions state to spray it on about 20cm away and leave it on the area for about 5 minutes. I sprayed behind the loo and the grouting on the bath and waited the 5 minutes. To be honest I really didn't expect it to work and after the 5 minutes I rinsed it off and the wiped it over with a cloth and was really surprised the black on the grouting which was quite ingrained black had turned a very light grey and the patch behind the loo had gone completely. I used it again on the grouting the next day and now it has really paled I can't say it has gone completely but it is so much better and the patch behind the loo hasn't come back yet and it has been a month. I have since used it on the window frames, where they have been closed all winter there were a few black spots but this product made short work of them. It is also good for the taps and plugholes and leaves them nice and shinny.

PRICE
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Very reasonable at £1.99 for a 500ml bottle

ADVICE ON DAMP
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A main cause of mould and damp is condensation, a good way to reduce this is to ventilate and wipe the windows over every day with a dry cloth.
Also reduce the amount of moisture in the home including venting tumble driers, dry washing outside, cover saucepans when cooking, do not keep boiling the kettle, try and keep the home warm, do not block up ventilators, leave a gap between the back of furniture and the outside wall, open windows where possible, use extractor fans where possible. I know a lot of these are not possible especially in the winter and there a lot more things you can do to prevent and treat damp. There are some good websites out there with lots of advice just use google.


I must admit I was impressed with this product it did the job and just for £1.99, it does have a very strong smell of bleach which I am used to by now but some people may find it too much. It may need a few applications for ground in mould or damp but it does make a difference take it from someone who has tried most wonder products on the market! So now I am a happier mummy and am slowly being weaned off the medication! But I know the mould is out there watching me!!!

Property of madmum71 & lisa8871

Summary: A cheap impressive product